Waterproof switch-joint.



W. E. McEL DOWNEY.

WATERPROOF SWITCH JOINT. APPLICATION FlLED MAY 27. 1913.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i %m z M ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

W; E. McELDOWNEY.

WATERPROOF SWITCH JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1913.

1,162,793. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH COHWASHINGTON D c pairs; s rarsr annrenrich.

/ VVILBER E. MQELDOWNEY, 01? DENVER, COLGEADO, ASSIGNQR TOTH'E .MILLEBELECTRIC SWITOIT COMPANY, A OfiJR-PORELTIOH OF OOLORADO.

warnnrrloor Swmewma Application filed May 27, mt. serial No. 770,205.

To all whom; it may concern Be it known that I, WVILBER E. MUEL- nowNEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in WaterproofSwitch-Joints, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in water proof switch joints, andthe objects v of my improvements are to provide a joint in a switchthrowing device that will prevent moisture passing into the mechanism orin the solenodial containing compartment of the switch throwing device;to provide a water proof joint that will attain the objects without theuse of liquids in the joint and to provide a water proof joint that maybe adjusted from time to time and at the same time give support to thethrowing arm or lever of a switch throwing device. I attain theseobjects by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view in broken section showing the relativeposition of my device;

Fi 2 is a oer )endicular cross sectional view &

of the device; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a solenoid switchthrowing mechanism; Fig. 4: is a plan view of a metal washer; Fig. 5 isa plan view of a fiber washer; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of Fig.5 at line C-D; and Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 4- at lineA-B.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several drawings.

In a box 1, adapted to be placed beneath the surface of the ground, is asolenoid 2, connected by lever 3 with the switch throwing element 1, towhich switch throwing element 1- is attached a'shaft 6 turnable in thebracket 5. The inner lid 7 of the box 1 is provided with certain formssurrounding the shaft 6, described as follows :-A stuffing box 8 dependsfrom the lid 7, having an interior space 9 larger than the shaft 6, eX-cept at the bottom of the box 8, where the edges close around the shaft6. On the upper side of the inner lid 7 is an upwardly extending annularboss 13. The shaft throwing lever is made in two parts 14; and 15, forconvenience of construction, and for purposes of invention they may beconsidered as integral. This switch throwing lever is atached to theshaft 6 by bolt means 16 and the two parts 14 and 15 are joinedSpecification of Letters Patent. I

Patented net. *7, 915.

washers 10 and fiber washers or"pliable washers 11. The metal washer 10is provided with a shoulder 10 so that the fiber washer 11, isconstructed so that the inner portion of the washer 11 will turn up intothe space made by the shoulder 10, as shown in Fig. 2. At the top of thebox on the interior 9 thereof, a gland nut 12 is provided,screw-threaded, in the lid 7 and provided with means for the applicationof a spanner wrench for adjustment. The under side of the switchthrowing lever 141- is provided with a cup 13 adapted to receive theboss 13, with the sides 18 and 18 extending down to and closely fittingover the cover 7 and the gland nut 12.

It will be seen that when the device is as sembled, the fiber washers11, being made the requisite size, are forced upwardly and against thesides of the shaft 6 and that the amount of pressure may be furnished bythe adjustment of the gland nut 12, as may be required, and thereby takeup any slack that should occur in the fiber washer 11. It is to benoticed, also, that by this construction the throwing lever, hereindescribed as composed of parts 14C and 15, is sustained by the annularboss 13 so that the strain is not wholly upon the shaft 6, and itsbearings, but is borne in part by the annular boss 13 and its bearings.

I am aware that waterproof joints, and especially mercury wells, havebeen in use, but in my device I am not relying upon the use of any ofthe parts in connection with mercury, or waterproof liquid.

I claim In a waterproof switch jointof the char-' acter described withwhich is provided a box containing a solenoid and a switch throwingmechanism; the combination of a shaft attached at one end to a switchthrowing mechanism and at the other end to a lever adapted to beconnected with a switoh ed to fit on the interior of said stufiing boxtongue; and a stuffing boxintegral With and and an annular cup on theunderside of said 1 depending fromithe cover of the'said conleveradapted to engage said annular boss,

taining box adaptedto surround said shaft all substantially asdescribed.

'5'.- and to containmoisture proof material; a VVILBER E. MCELDOWNEY.

superimposed annular boss integral With Witnesses: said cover on" theupper side thereof, ex- W. G. DARBY, tending above said cover; a glandnut adapt- MARY O. LOWRY.

"Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. G.

